NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden

[fonzob1]

The White House has finally acknowledged a two year old petition to grant clemency to Edward Snowden. Snowden exposed illegal NSA spying on American citizens, which he initially reported internally to superiors. After being ignored, he went public and sought asylum from foreign governments who he in turn provided classified information about U.S. government activity.

http://rare.us/story/the-white-hous...petition-to-grant-clemency-to-edward-snowden/

If he [Edward Snowden] felt his actions were consistent with civil disobedience, then he should do what those who have taken issue with their own government do: Challenge it, speak out, engage in a constructive act of protest, and — importantly — accept the consequences of his actions. He should come home to the United States, and be judged by a jury of his peers — not hide behind the cover of an authoritarian regime. Right now, he’s running away from the consequences of his actions.

Should the White House grant Snowden clemency? Is this guy a hero, a traitor, or something else?

 

[Locutus of Bored]

While I have issues with some of his methods of releasing he information and post-release behavior (though I can understand the fear of prosecution that motivated him), I believe his heart was in the right place and his actions have certainly exposed vast overreach on the part of the NSA and the US intelligence apparatus, so I see nothing productive to be gained by prosecuting him.

Also, the Obama administration has been relentless in its discouragement, harassment, and prosecution of whistleblowers (more so than even the Bush administration, sadly), which I think creates a poor environment for future whistleblowers to take action when our government oversteps its authority. I would say granting clemency to arguably the most famous whistleblower might go a long way toward reversing that trend of trampling on government employees who speak out against abuse of authority.

I think ultimately history will probably reflect favorably on the results of his actions, though perhaps not their execution, and will look on him not as a traitor but not necessarily a hero either. I'd reserve that title more for people such as Daniel Ellsberg, who released the Pentagon Papers during Vietnam and stuck around to face the music instead of serving as a propaganda piece for hostile nations.

 

[fonzob1]

I agree that he ultimately did the right thing but would stop short of calling him a hero. I think it is a shame that no real reform came out of it, though. The NSA continues to abuse its authority while claiming that it only operates to prevent terrorism.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I voted for clemency in the poll, but what I really think is that he deserves a full pardon and the Medal of Freedom. The changes in policy regarding governments spying on their own citizens, and the new technologies that have been developed privately to protect our privacy, because of what Snowden did while giving up a comfortable life and risking never being able to come home again, warrant that, for certain, IMO.

Certainly, he may have at times also ended up as a talking point for foreign governments to try to embarrass the US and other "free world" nations with - but that's because: 1. the governments involved *deserved* to be embarrassed, and 2. this isn't an American problem. It's a global one.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I think he's a hero and frankly I don't think less of him just because he didn't stick around to spend the rest of his life in prison (although he'd still be a hero if he did.)

I agree that he deserves a pardon and a medal. (So does Chelsea Manning, while we're at it.)

 

[fonzob1]

The changes in policy regarding governments spying on their own citizens, and the new technologies that have been developed privately to protect our privacy,

To what changes in policy are you referring? The Freedom Act? The NSA didn't put up any kind of fight against the Freedom Act, which should tell you that it really didn't do much to limit NSA business as usual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP-c3o0jZHA